VIOLATIONS

Jacksonville Ordinance Code tit. XIV, ch. 518, pt. 1, subpt. D

in effect

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.131 Violation notices and service.

Sec. 518.131. - Violation notices and service. Whenever the Chief determines that any building, structure or premises fails to meet the requirements set forth in this Chapter or in applicable rules promulgated pursuant to this Chapter, he/she shall direct such person to correct the violation within a specified reasonable time. Such notice shall be considered effective upon hand delivery of the notice to the property owner by a sheriff, code inspector, law enforcement officer or other person designated by the City or by leaving the notice at the property owner's usual place of residence with any person residing therein who is above 15 years of age and informing such person of the contents of the notice. Notice shall also be considered effective upon the execution of the return receipt indicating such notice by mail has been accepted at such person's address or by posting a copy of such notice on the property determined to be in violation and by posting the notice at City Hall. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2006-1363-E, § 5)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.132 Form of notice.

Sec. 518.132. - Form of notice. Notices of violation issued pursuant to this Chapter shall: (a) Be in writing; (b) Describe the building, structure or premises where the violations are alleged to exist or to have been committed, with sufficient specificity to identify both the place and the violations; (c) Set forth the alleged violations of this Chapter or the applicable rules promulgated pursuant to this Chapter; (d) Provide a reasonable time, not less than 24 hours, for the correction of any alleged violation; (e) Include a statement that the owner and/or other responsible party shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Chapter in the event that the violations are not remedied within the time specified; and (f) Be served on the alleged violator by such method authorized in Section 609.104. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2006-1363-E, § 6)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.133 Enforcement alternatives; civil penalties.

Sec. 518.133. - Enforcement alternatives; civil penalties. (a) The provisions of this Chapter shall be enforced by any available method under law or equity, and shall not necessarily be limited to the specific procedures or methods specified under this Chapter. (b) Violations of the provisions of this Chapter can be prosecuted through any administrative board with authority to impose administrative fines and civil penalties for violations of the provisions of this Chapter, including the specific authority to order the City to abate any violation of this Chapter if a violation has not been corrected within a specified reasonable time as determined by the Municipal Code Enforcement Board or Special Magistrate, or through any supplemental method established under the Ordinance Code, Florida Statutes or common law. (c) Violations of the provisions of this Chapter may also be enforced by citations for civil penalties pursuant to the authority granted by F.S. Ch. 162, Part II, and Ch. 609, Ordinance Code. Unless otherwise specified, violations of the provisions of this Chapter shall be a Class D offense, as defined in Ch. 609. (d) The City shall have the right to utilize any available method to obtain restitution for the cost of abating a nuisance under this Chapter to include, but not necessarily limited to, foreclosure of the lien, placing the special assessment on the tax roll pursuant to the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem assessment, or holding the property owner personally responsible for the cost of abating the nuisance on his property. (e) Notwithstanding the above, the City shall also be authorized to obtain the assistance of the courts to remove, terminate or abate a public nuisance. In such cases, the Chief shall request and obtain legal representation from the Office of General Counsel, to commence and maintain the necessary action in the appropriate court to assist the Chief in carrying out its responsibilities under this Chapter. The action may encompass any or all of the following proceedings: (1) To make application for an injunction or restraining order, whether temporary or permanent, to prevent a person from maintaining any of the conditions declared under this Chapter to be nuisances. (2) To enjoin and abate the nuisance. (3) To compel the performance of any act specifically required of any person to remove, terminate or abate a public nuisance. (4) To authorize the City to remove the nuisance with City personnel or through a private contractor and to place a special assessment lien for the cost of removing the nuisance. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2004-429-E, § 22; Ord. 2007-286-E, § 8)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.134 Judicial proceedings.

Sec. 518.134. - Judicial proceedings. (a) Whenever, in the judgment of the Chief, it is necessary to obtain the assistance of the courts to remove, terminate or abate a public nuisance, and in all cases wherein the person in possession of the property whereon is located the public nuisance sought to be removed, terminated or abated has refused the Chief entry upon the property, he shall request the Office of General Counsel, to commence and maintain the necessary action in the appropriate court to assist the Division in carrying out its responsibilities under this Chapter. The action may encompass any or all of the following proceedings: (1) To make application for an injunction or restraining order, whether temporary or permanent, to prevent a person from maintaining or continuing to maintain any of the conditions declared public nuisances under this Chapter. (2) To enjoin and abate the public nuisances declared under this Chapter. (3) To compel the performance of any act specifically required of any person to remove, terminate or abate a public nuisance. (4) To empower the Chief or his designated representative to enter upon property whereon a public nuisance exists or is maintained for the purpose of removing, terminating or abating the nuisance and to prevent the person in possession of the property from interfering with the Chief while exercising this power in accordance with the court's order. (b) The judicial remedies authorized to be sought by this Section are in addition to the power of the Chief to terminate public nuisances. The Chief shall, as much as possible, terminate public nuisances without recourse to the courts. (c) Whenever the Chief shall have contracted with a private contractor to terminate a public nuisance the remedies herein authorized to be sought for the Chief may be sought for the Chief on behalf of the private contractor, to the extent they are necessary to enable the private contractor to terminate the public nuisance. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.135 Vacating of declared building.

Sec. 518.135. - Vacating of declared building. Any building or structure declared unsafe and so designated and placarded by the Chief, shall be vacated within a reasonable time as determined by the Chief based on the severity of the unsafe condition(s), after notice of condemnation has been given by the Chief to the owner and occupant of the building or structure. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2015-693-E, § 2)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.136 Unlawful to occupy.

Sec. 518.136. - Unlawful to occupy. It shall be a Class C offense, as defined in Section 632.101, Ordinance Code, to be physically present in or to allow others to be physically present in any building or structure which has been condemned pursuant to this Chapter until such building has been made to comply in every respect with the order and notice of violation issued pursuant to the condemnation or unless such individual has obtained prior written authorization from the Chief or his or her designee to be inside the building or structure for the express purpose of rectifying the deficiencies outlined in the order and notice of violation. All written authorizations shall be posted on site at all times during permitted corrective actions. The failure to post such written authorization shall be a Class C offense. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2006-590-E, § 2)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.137 Unlawful to remove placard.

Sec. 518.137. - Unlawful to remove placard. It shall be unlawful for a person to deface or remove the placard from a building or structure placarded pursuant to this Part, except by written authorization from the Chief. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.138 Unlawful to provide utility service.

Sec. 518.138. - Unlawful to provide utility service. It shall be unlawful for any person, by act or omission, to cause utility service to continue or to be reconnected to a property which remains in violation of this Chapter after a notice of violation has been issued when such continuance or reconnection of utility service involves a change in occupancy, or reoccupancy, of the property. Notwithstanding, the Chief may authorize temporary utility service for the purpose of repairing or altering a property to bring it into compliance with this Chapter. Notification of noncompliance and temporary authorization for utility service shall be in writing or through computer communication with utility companies. Any inspections required for authorization of utility service shall be special service inspections and subject to a fee per the fee schedule provided herein. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.139 Unlawful to rent, lease or occupy.

Sec. 518.139. - Unlawful to rent, lease or occupy. It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessor or landlord, or any agent for any owner, lessor or landlord, to cause or permit the occupancy of any vacant property which has been cited for violations of this Chapter and which remains in violation, unless given prior written approval by the Chief. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.140 Unlawful to fail to provide notice to renters, lessees and purchasers of substandard property.

Sec. 518.140. - Unlawful to fail to provide notice to renters, lessees and purchasers of substandard property. It shall be unlawful for any person who sells, leases or rents a property or premises with respect to which a violation notice has been issued pursuant to this Chapter, and which remains in violation of this Chapter, to fail to tender a copy of the violation notice to the prospective purchaser, lessee or renter of such property prior to the time any interest in the property passes to the purchaser, lessee or renter. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.141 Unlawful to refuse or restrict lawful entry.

Sec. 518.141. - Unlawful to refuse or restrict lawful entry. It shall be unlawful and a Class E offense, as defined in Addendum B to this Chapter, for any person to refuse, impede, inhibit, interfere with, restrict or obstruct lawful entry or access to any part of a property or premises where an inspection or action authorized by this Chapter is sought. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1; Ord. 2015-693-E, § 3)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 518.142 Access by owner or operator.

Sec. 518.142. - Access by owner or operator. Every occupant of a property subject to regulation by this Chapter shall give the owner or operator thereof, or his agent or employee, lawful access to any part of the premises, at reasonable times, for the purpose of making such inspection, maintenance, repairs or alterations as are necessary to comply with the provisions of this Chapter. It shall be unlawful to refuse such access. (Ord. 96-458-297, § 1)

Source: City of Jacksonville, Ordinance Code and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIVHOCODE_CH518JAPRSAMACO_PT1GEPR_SPDVIFetched: 10/27/2026